8 Great Smartphone Apps to Save You Money

But going out of your way to find the best price can cost you more time than you have to lose. Running around town to price shop. Comparing multiple websites. Flipping through circulars and clipping, organizing and keeping track of coupons. There’s gotta be an easier way.

Fortunately, for smartphone users, there’s a cache of mobile phone apps to help you cash in on the best deals and save all over the place. Whether you’re looking to score at major retailers, land the lowest last-minute hotel rate or consistently pay less at the pump, these are among the top money-saving apps to get pumped about.

All are free and iPhone/Android compatible.

RedLaser
Let’s say you’re at a major office supply store looking for a new laptop or tablet. Wouldn’t you love to know what the “other guys” are selling it for without making an additional trip? Armed with the RedLaser Bar Code and QR scanner app, just scan a product’s barcode and you can pull up pricing on the same item at major competitors. Additional perks include coupon notifications and the ability to scan and save all of your loyalty card info in one place.

Hotel Tonight
Who says you snooze you lose? You can wait until the last minute and still land an amazing deal on an upscale hotel stay. With Hotel Tonight, you can score discounts of up to 70% on same-day stays at high-end hotels. Great rates get posted after noon each day for deals in 12 countries and over 150 prime locations.

shopkick
You don’t even have to buy anything to get something with shopkick. You see, with shopkick, you get points (or “kicks”) just for walking into a store. And you can put your kicks toward gift certificates at participating retailers, including Target, Macy’s, Old Navy and more. Those who spend, of course, get more kicks.

ShopAdvisor
If you already know what you want, ShopAdvisor can help you get it when it’s priced right. With ShopAdvisor, you scan the barcode of something you have your heart set on. It’ll end up on your “watch list” so that whenever it goes on sale (at a store in your vicinity), you’ll be the first to know.

GasBuddy
The staggeringly high prices we’re seeing at the pump have fueled just about all of us to be more frugal in one way or another. GasBuddy puts road warriors in the driver’s seat by alerting where in town you can top off the tank for the lowest price.

RepairPal
If there was only a quick fix to the grind of finding a qualified mechanic. Wait…there is. Download the RepairPal app and know what price you should pay for your repair. What’s more, the app locates qualified mechanics in your area, tracks all your repairs, and offers one-touch access to roadside assistance.

RetailMeNot
With RetailMeNot, customers get the benefit of retail coupon savings without the hassle of having to physically have them in hand (simply show your phone at checkout.) With the app, you can quickly pull up coupons or coupon codes at loads of major retailers.

Viggle
TV junkies can have their fix with the Viggle. Download the app and “check in” to register the show you’re watching (you’ll earn one point per minute). You can earn bonus points for watching featured programs, too. Points are redeemable for gift cards and other prizes.